Millville murder investigators access suspect's cell phone

Three defendants accused in connection with the fatal shooting of a former Millville youth football coach appeared in Cumberland County Superior Court on Monday, March 4, 2019.
Adam Monacelli, Vineland Daily Journal

BRIDGETON – A cell phone taken from a Camden man arrested in the murder of a Millville youth sports figure now is reportedly giving up its secrets to investigators, according to testimony in Cumberland County Superior Court on Monday.

Clifton D. Bailey is one of three men charged with first-degree murder and first-degree conspiracy to commit murder, as well as other offenses. Six people in total are charged with various roles in the shooting of Millville resident Joseph Jones, or alleged efforts to derail the investigation.

Bailey was arraigned Monday before Judge Michael Silvanio. Defendant Tyrell J. Hart also was processed on multiple lesser charges. Four other defendants, only one of whom made it to court, received postponements.

County Assistant Prosecutor Charles J. Wettstein told the court that Bailey has denied involvement, but that his cell phone records and other evidence indicate otherwise. The cell phone itself was sent for forensic examination to the Cape May County Prosecutor’s Office, he said.

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Clifton D. Bailey, left, stands with his attorney, Patrick Joyce, in Cumberland County Superior Court on Monday, March 4, 2019. Bailey is charged with homicide in the killing of Joseph Jones behind Lakeside Middle School in Millville. Adam Monacelli/Staff Photographer

Judge Michael Silvanio presided in Cumberland County Superior Court as three people accused in connection with the fatal shooting of a former Millville youth football coach appeared before him on Monday, March 4, 2019. Adam Monacelli/Staff Photographer

Clifton D. Bailey, left, stands with his attorney, Patrick Joyce, in Cumberland County Superior Court on Monday, March 4, 2019. Bailey is charged with homicide in the killing of Joseph Jones behind Lakeside Middle School in Millville. Adam Monacelli/Staff Photographer

Clifton D. Bailey, left, stands with his attorney, Patrick Joyce, in Cumberland County Superior Court on Monday, March 4, 2019. Bailey is charged with homicide in the killing of Joseph Jones behind Lakeside Middle School in Millville. Adam Monacelli/Staff Photographer

Genea Hughes-Lee appears in Cumberland County Superior Court before Judge Michael Silvanio on Monday, March 4, 2019. Hughes-Lee has been charged with conspiracy to hinder apprehension, obstruction, and two counts of making false reports to law enforcement. Adam Monacelli/Staff Photographer

Genea Hughes-Lee appears in Cumberland County Superior Court before Judge Michael Silvanio on Monday, March 4, 2019. Hughes-Lee has been charged with conspiracy to hinder apprehension, obstruction, and two counts of making false reports to law enforcement. Adam Monacelli/Staff Photographer

Judge Michael Silvanio presided in Cumberland County Superior Court as three people accused in connection with the fatal shooting of a former Millville youth football coach appeared before him on Monday, March 4, 2019. Adam Monacelli/Staff Photographer

Tyrell Hart appears in Cumberland County Superior Court before Judge Michael Silvanio on Monday, March 4, 2019. Hart has been charged with conspiracy to hinder apprehension, obstruction, and two counts of making false reports to law enforcement. Adam Monacelli/Staff Photographer

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“I just received word this morning that they were able to get into the cell phone and retrieve data today,” Wettstein said. “Retrieval’s going to take a couple days because of the volume of data that’s on the cell phone.

“Once that’s obtained, it will be reviewed,” Wettstein said. “It’s going to take some time. But I know that they’re looking for some specific information on that, particularly location data as well as any text messages that may have been ongoing during that time.”

Jones, 37, was shot while at a nighttime practice of a Millville Midget Football League team on Aug. 9, 2018, in Millville. He was a former coach.

A car believed to be carrying suspects was spotted by an Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office detective in the area in unrelated business and chased onto Route 55, authorities say.

The chase lasted into northern Vineland, where it broke off after the suspect vehicle stopped on an off-ramp at Exit 35 on Garden Road in Vineland to allow an occupant to shoot at the detective. The detective stopped to seek cover, and the car escaped.

That vehicle was described as a red, Pontiac Grand Prix. In court on Monday, testimony was presented to link Bailey as a possible occupant and perhaps the driver of the vehicle.

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Vineland resident Tyrell Hart appears in Cumberland County Superior Court before Judge Michael Silvanio on Monday, March 4, 2019. Hart is a defendant in a 2018 Millville murder case. He is charged with conspiracy to hinder apprehension, obstruction, and two counts of making false reports to law enforcement.(Photo: Adam Monacelli/Staff Photographer)

Wettstein told the court Bailey’s girlfriend bought a red Grand Prix in Philadelphia and Bailey posted on Facebook prior to the incident a photograph of its temporary registration.

Defense counsel Patrick Joyce, however, entered pleas of not guilty to all the charges against Bailey.

Wettstein said that Bailey is being offered a recommended sentence of 30 years in prison if he pleads guilty to the murder charge and a charge of hindering apprehension.

Bailey also faces drug charges stemming from his arrest. Those charges are not part of the plea bargain being offered, Wettstein said.

The state’s case is reliant on wiretap evidence and cell phone evidence. Cell phone records show Bailey made a trip from Camden to Vineland on the day of the crime, Wettstein said.

“There were cell phone pings on a number of towers in Vineland, notably in the area where the co-conspirators retrieved some old New Jersey registration tags that were placed on Mr. Bailey’s vehicle,” Wettstein said. “Also, judge, his cell phone also hit in an area near Route 55 near one of the exits for Route 55, thereby leading us to believe that he was involved in perhaps being the driver of the Grand Prix as it fled the scene.”

Testimony was relatively brief for the arraignment of Hart, who appeared with defense counsel Ronald Thompson. Hart is free pending trial.

Hart is being offered a recommended prison sentence of three years, if he pleads guilty to conspiracy to commit obstruction of justice and to hindering apprehension/prosecution.

Thompson said he did not have a response to the offer, yet, and would wait until he could review all discovery.

The other four defendants in the case are Eugene B. Cosby Jr., Will R. El-Bey, Genea Hughes-Lee, and Hakeem L. Smith.

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Genea Hughes-Lee appears in Cumberland County Superior Court before Judge Michael Silvanio on Monday, March 4, 2019. Hughes-Lee has been charged with conspiracy to hinder apprehension, obstruction, and two counts of making false reports to law enforcement.(Photo: Adam Monacelli/Staff Photographer)

Like Bailey, Cosby and El-Bey are charged with murder and conspiracy to commit murder. Authorities identify the three as the primary figures in the case, and the men are held in separate jails in other counties.

Transportation issues apparently kept Cosby and El-Bey from court. No reason was given for the absence of Smith, who is free pending trial.

Hughes-Lee was in court, but her public defender was not because she is on maternity leave.

A Cumberland County grand jury on Feb. 20 issued a 17-count indictment against the defendants.

The six defendants and their status in the case are as follows:

Eugene B. Cosby Jr., 43, was jailed on Oct. 10, 2018, and was ordered held until trial. He is charged with murder and conspiracy to commit murder and other offenses. He is a Vineland resident. His defense counsel is Wayne Powell.

Will R. El-Bey, 22, was jailed on Oct. 10, 2018, and was ordered held until trial. He is charged with murder and conspiracy to commit murder and other offenses. He is a Vineland resident. His defense counsel is Diane Ruberton.

Tyrell J. Hart, 23, was jailed on Oct. 10, 2018, and released six days later pending trial. He is a Vineland resident. His defense counsel is Ronald Thompson.

Genea Hughes-Lee, 34, was jailed on Oct. 10, 2018, and released nine days later. She is a Bridgeton resident. Her defense counsel is Emily S. Bell.

Hakeem L. Smith, 23, was jailed on Oct. 31, 2018, and released the same day. He is a Vineland resident. His defense counsel is Terry Stomel.

Clifton D. Bailey, 27, was jailed on Nov. 12, 2018, and was ordered held until trial. He is charged with murder and conspiracy to commit murder and other offenses. He is a Camden resident. His defense counsel is Patrick Joyce of the firm Louis & Barbone.